STUDENTS from Epsom were given the rare opportunity to guest edit fashion magazine ELLE.

Carly Allen, Sophia Chemaitelli and Mariella Agapiou, from the University for the Creative Arts (UCA), were part of a group of 11 winning interns who were given the chance to compile the October issue of the iconic publication.

Sophia, 20, Chessington, who is about to go into her second year of BA (Hons) Fashion Promotion & Imaging at UCA Epsom, won the intern role of picture editor.

She said: “It was amazing and scary to be putting an edition of ELLE together knowing that what you were doing was going to be seen by hundreds of thousands of people.

"It was such a sense of achievement to build a feature from scratch with all of the different teams in the office.

"The highlight for me from the whole experience was holding the published issue in my hands for the first time, words can't describe the feeling.”

The students won their roles following a competition launched earlier this year.

Recent MA Fashion and Lifestyle graduate, Mariella Agapiou, 23, from Bromley, Kent, won the features editor intern position, and she said: "It was great putting the magazine together. I learned so much about the production and planning that goes into making such a fabulous title.

"I’m certain those skills be with me throughout my career but also help me land my dream job.”

She said: “Putting together the pages of ELLE was inspiring. My university course has taught me how to use InDesign, but working under the pressure of magazine deadlines put a completely different spin on it, one that I enjoyed.”

The 'Edited by the Interns 2012' initiative was designed to nurture new talent and help the next generation of fashion and media stars to launch their careers in publishing.

This was the first time that ELLE had handed the magazine over in this way, tasking the interns to fill its pages with interviews, insider tips and behind-the-scenes observations.

Editor-in-chief Lorraine Candy said: “Edited by the Interns 2012 has provided these talented interns with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to contribute to the production of the world’s biggest fashion magazine.

“The interns have worked extremely hard on the October issue and it’s fantastic that they’ll be able to share their experiences with ELLE readers across a range of platforms, including social media, blogs and mobile.”

Sophia added: “If I wasn't doing my degree at UCA, I wouldn't have built up the knowledge needed and confidence in myself to believe I could win the competition.

"Also, one of the photographs I took for my first year styling module is featured in the issue, so that's a very big deal.”